Today’s children have access to toys of all shapes and sizes. Some toys are cuddly and squishy, while others are high-tech, but did you know that the soft toy are the most popular with kids?
For children, a teddy bear is a friend that listens or talks to them no matter where they are. He can also serve as an outlet for their feelings and emotions that they otherwise cannot put into words.
Do you remember your very first teddy bear? For many, this furry gift is their first childhood friend. So it’s no wonder that children can get so attached to their little companions.
Numerous studies have shown that stuffed animals have a positive impact on a child’s development. Even in today’s technological age, stores around the world are still full of stuffed animals and loved by many!
Benefits of soft toys for babies
Babies love to touch and feel new textures. Plush toys provide the perfect mix for developing sensory skills and encourage social and emotional development.
Just like adults, babies feel fear and anxiety. The world is a scary place for them. One way to reassure and comfort them is to show them their favourite stuffed animal. Soft toys can give babies a sense of reassurance and familiarity. This can serve as a foundation for strengthening their social skills.
Because pretend play encourages them to interact with others, stuffed animals can also help babies develop their language and communication skills. Imaginative play encourages them to talk to other people, laying the foundation for learning to write and read in the near future.
Soft toys also encourage babies to care about other people and appreciate the presence of relationships. It helps them understand the importance of empathy and compassion and satisfies their need to care for others.
When buying stuffed animals for babies, it is important to make sure that they are suitable for children under 12 months.
Benefits of stuffed animals for toddlers
The benefits of stuffed animals for toddlers are invaluable. The warmth of a snuggle animal provides comfort and security that children desire when they are tired or facing a new situation or change.
A toddler’s favourite teddy can also help with separation anxiety and the transition from crib to toddler bed.
Young children often use stuffed animals to project their own feelings – and then comfort them, which promotes valuable qualities like empathy, affection and bonding.
For toddlers, the world is an exciting place with many things to discover. Stuffed animals can help them learn new skills through role-play.
Children tend to throw tantrums when they are frustrated. As a parent, you can help them control their emotions by giving them a stuffed animal. For example, if your child tends to cry when you leave the house, you can re-enact those moments with his stuffed animal.
Borrow his favourite soft toy and pretend he wants to go to preschool, meet new friends and learn from teachers. Once it realises that it’s not so bad when you leave the house, it will stop throwing tantrums.
Children this age are sometimes afraid of being away from their parents. Our favourite stuffed animals for kids are Bonnie Bunny, Hamilton Hippo, and Cuddles the Monkey because they are so cuddly and friendly!
Soft Toy for older children & big children
The benefits of soft toy do not just apply to babies and toddlers. Studies have shown that cuddling a stuffed animal can help relieve anxiety.
Touch that mimics human interaction, such as cuddling with a teddy bear, could be a helpful adjunct in treating low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.
It seems that the relationship we develop with our favourite stuffed animals as young children may also be beneficial in adulthood.
At ABC Ideal Partners, we sell a wonderful collection of unique plush toys for kids of all ages and adults alike!
Do you still have your childhood teddy bear? What memories do you associate with your first stuffed animal? We would love to hear your story!
